A Message from George W. Bush and Al Gore

Tom Brokaw: Hello, America! Florida Secretary of State, Katherine Harris issued a statement saying that the state of Florida will contest the federal judge’s ruling……

Announcer: We interrupt this Election 2000 breaking story for an update from Florida. Reporting from New York, here is Tom Brokaw.

Tom Brokaw: Hello, America. This is a real breaking news story. What you were just watching was breaking news on tape. I apologize for that. This is live. Unless, of course, this is a tape of a live segment we’ve….

Tom Brokaw: Ok. I’m sorry about that. There’s a lot of different kinds of breaking news on this story, but this one is for real. I’ve just been told that George W. Bush is going to make a statement from the governor’s mansion in Texas. NBC takes you live to Austin, for this important address.

George W. Bush: (completely spaced out look) Me? Oh! Good evening, America. For the past few weeks, we have been thrown into a horrifying and tumultuous nightmare known as the Recount. It’s like a world gone mad. Regular people hand counting ballots to make sure the right vote was cast. A process racked with fraud and Democratic voodoo mind reading. Yikes! I’m sure that, like me, most of you have been very edgy and wetting the bed. You’ve probably been tempted by the demon Budweiser. I said tempted! Well, no more. I’m calling this thing! I won fair and square! That’s right, state of Florida, read my mouth! I am the President of the United States!

Now, I’ve been carrying this acceptance speech in my pocket for weeks and it’s high time I read it. It’s in here somewhere. (fishing through pockets as random objects fall out) I’m gonna get it out, here. There’s a Bazooka Joe cartoon. (laughs) Man, Bazooka Joe! You don’t have to throw a clock to see if time flies! Alright, here it is: (ahem) “Daddy, help me! I never thought I’d win this thing and I want out….” Wait. (continues to fish in pockets for a different paper) That’s just something else. Uh, here we go: “America, we shall always remember this day of November Seventh. I believe it was the great poet, Lynyrd Skynyrd, who wrote: ‘Ooh, that smell! Can’t you smell that smell? Well, I can smell that smell…’ And it is the smell of George W. triumph, for tonight, I am victorian! And then, the crowd would have gone crazy, you know, aaahh! Aaah!”

(Judges run in and surround Bush)

Wait, what the hell? Who are you? What the hell?

(Enter Al Gore)

Al Gore: They’re Florida Supreme Court justices. They’re here to remind you that you have to wait until Monday to make any statements.

Author: Don Roy King

Don Roy King is directing his fourteenth season of Saturday Night Live. That work has earned him nine Emmys and thirteen nominations. Additionally, he has been nominated for thirteen DGA Awards and won in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Mr. King is also the creative director of Broadway Worldwide which brings theatrical events to theaters. The company has produced Smokey Joe’s Café; Putting It Together with Carol Burnett; Jekyll & Hyde; and Memphis, all directed by Mr. King. He completed the screen capture of Broadway's Romeo & Juliet in 2013. - LinkedIn View all posts by Don Roy King